Medical research and development aim to advance the understanding of science and promote human health. However, it is crucial to remember the people participating in the research. Organizations or individuals tasked with the investigation can plan, implement, and follow up on studies to protect participants. Due to this, clinical researchers should use the four principles discussed below to ensure that medical research and development are handled consistently with the public interest and respect the participants’ privacy.
- Informed consent – subjects to be used in the study should decide if they want to participate or continue the research. This is done through a procedure of informed consent whereby people have accurately informed of the study’s purpose, benefits, risks, methods, and alternatives.
- Independent review – To reduce potential conflicts of interest and ensure the research is acceptable ethically before it starts, the independent review panel should review the proposal and ask critical questions.
- Fair participant selection – The major basis for recruiting participants should be the scientific goals of the research and not privilege, vulnerability, or other related factors.
- Social and clinical value – The study should be designed to respond to a particular question. This means that the response to the research question contributes to the scientific understanding of health.